Filling tube



April 5, 1949.

H. C. BENTLEY ET AL.

FLLLING TUBE Filed NOV. 28, 1945 Patented Apr. 5, 1949 FILLING TUBE Howard C. Bentley, Detroit, and Robert Bentley, Monroe, Mich.

Application November 28, 1945, Serial No. 631,244

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a filling spout adapted for use in filling tanks such as the fuel tanks on automo-v biles and the like. The filling spout relates to that class in which an inner tube is slidably mounted in an outer tube and so arranged yand constructed that it may be extended to render the same accessible While lling the tank and then collapsed or telescoped on the other tube when in non use. In this class of lling spout frequently the tank is positioned below the fender of an automobile or some other part of the body thereof and it has proven undesirable to have a guide tube or outer tube extending outwardly from the tank a distance sumciently to meet the covering body such as the fender or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction in which the outer or guide tube may consist of a pair of sections one of which is detachably connected to a short tube projecting outwardly from the tank and the other of which is extended to meet the fender or other covering portion of the body.

It is another object of the present inventionto provide in a filling spout construction a novel arrangement for retaining the lling spout either in its fully telescoped position or in its outwardly retracted position.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a lling spout construction of this type of a novel means for sealing the outer end of the inner tube While -at the same time retaining the outer face of the inner tube lying substantially flush and forming a continuation of the contour of the outer surface of the body or fender through which the tube is adapted to project.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated without departing from the invention itself and it is intended that such variations and modifications shall be encompassed within the scope of the claims which form a part hereof.

Forming a part of this specification are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the invention showing the tank in fragment and with parts of the invention broken away,

Fig. 2 :is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the lling spout in its extended or outwardly extended position with parts shown in section and parts broken away,

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing a slight 2 Claims. (Cl. 220--86) modication in the method of securing the inner tube in extended or telescoping position.

In the drawings I have illustrated the invention used with a fuel tank 9 projecting upwardly from which is a short tube III which is xedly mounted on the tank 9. An extension tube Il is connected to the tube I0 by means of the exible connecting sleeve I2 which is clamped on the tube II by the clamp I3 and clamped on the tube III by the clamping band I4. The upper end of the tube II isv flared outwardly as at I5 and provided at its upper end with the outwardly directed-r annular flange I1 on which is provided the bead I6'. An opening is formed in the center or body portion I8 having the inwardly offset flangeforming portion I 9 upon which the flange I1 rests.

This flange I1 may be secured to the flange I9` by welding or in any other suitable manner.

I provide an inner tube 20 which is adapted to` telescope with the tubes II and I0 as shown in Fig. 1 and which is adapted to be extended or drawn outwardly as shown in Fig. 2. The tube 20 is provided with a lateral opening 2l into which the nozzle of a lling hose'may be insertedy when the inner tube 20 is drawn outwardly intok position shown in Fig. 2. A groove 22 is formed in the periphery of the inner tube adjacent its inner end at the reduced portion 23. A similar peripheral groove I22 is formed in the periphery of the inner tube 20 adjacent its upper end. Formed on the outer or guide tube I I in circumferentially spaced relation are housings 24 secured to the lower end of which is one end of a spring clip 25 the free end being curved to form hook 26 adapted to engage in the ygroove 22 or the groove |22. As shown in Fig. 1 this keeper 26 is engaged in the groove I22 and since the member 25 is formed from spring material it is obvious that the keeper serves to resist outward movement of the tube 20 relatively to the tube I I. When the tube 2U is dr-awn to its outwardly retracted position as shown in Fig. 2 the keeper 26 engages in the groove 22 and thus serves to resist inward movement of the tube 20 relatively to the tube II.

In the modied form of construction shown in Fig. 4 I have mounted a housing 36 on the tube IIA which corresponds to the tube II and the inner tube 26A which corresponds to the tube 20 of the form shown in Fig. 1, is provided with the peripheral groove 22A. The cup-shaped member 31 is -sldably mounted in the housing 36 which is mounted on the tube IIA and this cupshaped member 31 is provided with the reduced pin-forming portion 38 which is adapted to engage in the groove 22A and which is normally thrust inw-ardly by pressure of the spring 39.

Formed on the upper end of the inner tube 20 is a peripheral flange 21 which engages the inner face of the plate 28 and which may be secured thereto by welding or in any other suitable manner. This plate 28 is provided with a central opening 23 which is covered by the plate 30 slidably mounted in the tube 20. Secured at one end to the plate 30 is a spring 3l the other end of which bears against the disc 32 xedly mounted in the tube 20. The construction is such that a person pressing downwardly on the portion 30 may insert a nger through the opening 29 and thus grip the plate 28 in order to pull the tube 20 outwardly into position shown in Fig. 2.

The marginal edge of the plate 28 is curled to.

form a hook which clamps against the ring 34 formed from suitable sealing material such as rubber or the like. This ring 34 is provided at its inner edge with the Vaxially directed lip 35. The construction is such that when the inner tube 20 is fully telescoped as shown in Fig. 1 the lip 35 Will be squeezed between the outwardly flared portion I of the outer tube Il and the peripheral surface of the tube 20 to form a tight seal. The bead i6 will be embedded inthe rubber ring 34 to aiford a further seal and the face of the rubber ring 34' will engage the outer faces of the anges l1 and I9. f

It will be noted thatnthe outer face of the plate 28 lies flush with theY outer face of the body or fender I8 and in shape and configuration forms a continuation of the contour of the outer face of the member I8.

By attaching the tube Il to the tube I0 in the manner indicated it is not necessary that the tube I0 be of any great length thus rendering more practicable the fabrication of a tank 9 with a tube I0 projecting outwardly therefrom and making it a safer object for transportation purposes.

Experience has shown that a ller tube such as illustrated has proven most eilcient and of a durable and compact construction which may be cheaply manufactured.

What we claim as new is:

1. In a lling spout of the class described, an outer guide spout; a filling spout slidably mounted in said outer guide spout and having a lateral opening formed therein for reception of a filling hose nozzle, said lling spout having a pair of circumferential, peripheral grooves in longitudinally spaced apart relation; a housing mounted yon the periphery of said guide spout adjacent one end thereof; a cup-shaped member mounted in said housing and slidable to project inwardly of said guide spout for engaging at its inner end in said circumferential grooves; and a spring for normally urging said cup-shaped member inwardly of said guide spout.

2. In a filling spout of the class described, an outer guide spout; a filling spout slidably mounted in said outer guide spout and having a pair of longitudinally spaced apart peripheral, circumferentially directed grooves; a housing mounted on said guide spout adjacent one end thereof and closed at its outer ends; a cup-shaped member mounted in said housing; a reduced pin-forming structure extruded outwardly from the face of said cup-forming member and adapted for engaging in said peripheral grooves upon registration of a groove therewith; and a spring positioned in said housing and bearing at one .end against said housing and at its opposite end against the inner face of the base of said cup-shaped member for normally urging said cup-shaped member into position for engaging said pin-forming structure in the groove.

HOWARD C'. BENTLEY. ROBERT BENTLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

